That stretch of Eldorado Parkway is a state roadway (FM 2934) and therefore is operated, maintained, and controlled by TxDOT. TxDOT has strict guidelines regarding the installation of a school zone, and because no children are required to cross Eldorado Parkway to attend school, they will not install a school zone. (All of the land north of Eldorado is zoned by FISD to attend Stafford Middle School, and there is no crosswalk across Eldorado Parkway in this area.)

Rather than install a school zone, TxDOT agreed to install a flashing school warning sign with an advisory speed of 35 mph attached to it in advance of the school in each direction. These were installed in 2004 and have remained the same since then. They only appear different now because the road has been widened recently.

The slower advisory speed is in effect whenever the sign is flashing. And, as with all warning signs with yellow advisory speeds on them, the slower advisory speed applies to you until you pass the object shown in the warning sign (in this case, the school).

So, just to be clear. Is it illegal to go faster than 35 mph when the light is flashing, or is it just a recommended speed, like a recommended warning speed on a curve? It irritates me when people blast through there at 55+ mph, while everyone else is doing 35 mph.

Technically, it is not illegal to drive over the posted 35 mph advisory speed limit in this school zone; however, police officers can still cite motorists for unsafe driving if their speed or driving behavior is not reasonable or prudent.